<em>Fothergilla</em>: planting, pruning, care

Description and botany

Native to moist woods and turf moors of the south-east United States, Fothergilla is a bush belonging to family Hamamelidaceae, like its close relative witch-hazel. Genus Fothergilla comprises two species, Fothergilla gardenii, sometimes called “dwarf Fothergilla”, and Fothergilla major (monticola). In recent years both species have given rise to new hybrid varieties such as Fothergilla x intermedia and cultivars like ‘Blue Shadow’, ‘Blue Mist’ or ‘Red Licorice’.

Fothergilla has slow growth and forms a dense, highly ramified bush from the base, with a pyramidal or upright habit. Of modest stature with a well-defined silhouette, it is perfectly suited to small and medium gardens and, although it may send out a few suckers, it never becomes invasive. Fothergilla gardenii will rarely exceed 60–90 cm in every direction, while the larger Fothergilla major will not surpass 2.50 m in height and develops almost as much spread at maturity.

Fothergilla surprises with its light, fragrant spring flowering. In March, April–May or June depending on climate, curious inflorescences appear as erect terminal spikes 2–5 cm long, emerging before the leaves and dotting the still-bare grey twigs like small bottle-brushes. Petal-less flowers consist of many long reflexed stamens 1–3 cm long, set in a chartreuse-green calyx, forming cylindrical spikes resembling small bottle-brushes.

Flowers are white, tending to chartreuse-green or yellow at the start of flowering and sometimes tinged with pink or cream. Fragrant, they give off a delicious sweet honey scent that attracts pollinating insects and drives bees wild! They develop into ovoid capsules, each containing a small shiny seed.

Flowering of Fothergillas: F. gardenii / F. major

This bush also seduces with ornamental foliage that ignites in sumptuous autumn colours. Deciduous, foliage consists of alternate leaves 2–12 cm long, obovate to ovate or diamond-shaped, almost rounded, with dentate margins and clearly marked parallel veins. Depending on variety, leaves may be glossy as if coated with a wax or pubescent. With a corrugated appearance and often slightly velvety beneath, they somewhat resemble hazel leaves.

Green or a striking electric blue lightly dusted with grey (‘Blue Shadow’) in spring, then turning dark green in summer, leaves adopt in autumn shades of fiery orange, scarlet red, cherry red (‘Red Licorice’), or copper streaked with purplish-red zones, filling garden with warm, spicy colours before falling.

Perfectly hardy, Fothergilla can withstand temperatures down to -15°C, sometimes lower, which ensures good survival across many regions.

Autumn foliage of Fothergilla gardenii and steel-blue foliage of Fothergilla intermedia ‘Blue Shadow’

Easy to grow, it thrives in humus-bearing, acidic soil that does not dry out in summer but is well drained, in non-scorching sun or partial shade. Intolerant of lime, this acidophilous bush will be happy in heather soil. Ideally choose a cool spot, such as a clearing or light shade provided by other shrubs.

Its modest size makes it ideal for small gardens, planted at centre of a cool border with ericaceous plants or grown in containers on terraces.

Main species and varieties

There are only two species of Fothergilla: Fothergilla major (growing up to 2.5 m), or “large Fothergilla” which flowers in May–June, and Fothergilla gardenii, a kind of miniature Fothergilla with earlier flowering (March–April or May depending on climate) and which, at only 1 m, fits into every garden.

These two species have produced varieties such as ‘Red Licorice’, which display sumptuous autumn colours from yellow to cherry red, and ‘Blue Shadow’, a cultivar with bluish leaves in summer.

Most popular

Fothergilla major

Larger than F.gardenii, this Fothergilla provides a bright accent in spring and autumn! With white pompom flowers and foliage displaying magnificent red, orange and yellow autumn tones, it stands out in small gardens or in terrace pots.

• Période de floraison June, July
• Hauteur à maturité 2 m

See the product sheet

Fothergilla gardenii

This dwarf Fothergilla is prized for its sumptuous autumn colours. Superb planted in a pot, as a solitary specimen or in a bed of heather soil bushes!

• Période de floraison May, June
• Hauteur à maturité 75 cm

See the product sheet

Our favourite

Fothergilla intermedia Blue Shadow

A remarkable new Fothergilla, noted for its striking steel-blue foliage turning red–orange in autumn! With its modest size, it can be planted in a pot or in open ground.

• Période de floraison May, June
• Hauteur à maturité 1,50 m

See the product sheet

Planting

Where to plant Fothergilla?

Fothergilla grows across France, except in Mediterranean climate, too hot and dry in summer, as this bush native to shrubby turf moors greatly dislikes drought. With good hardiness, it withstands temperatures down to -15°C, sometimes lower, ensuring good resilience in less favourable regions.

It thrives in sun, provided it is not too scorching, or in light shade in southern France, for example under the cover of deciduous trees: avoid dense shade so it flowers abundantly and produces splendid autumn colours. Thus, in northern regions, plant in sun close to a wall sheltered from drying winds to protect its attractive flowering.

Disliking lime like its relative witch hazel and dry soils, this acidophilous bush needs humus-rich, consistently fresh soil and should be grown in neutral to slightly acidic soil, ideally in heather soil or in any non-calcareous soil enriched with potting compost.

Compact, Fothergilla finds a place in all gardens, whether large, medium or simple town gardens.

Alone or in groups of 3 or 5, it fits perfectly into sunny clearings, informal flowering hedges with other spring-flowering bushes, in a bed of perennials or with heather-soil bushes, its white flowering standing out against a dark backdrop of evergreen foliage.

Small varieties are perfect in low hedges and pots.

Bushy habit of Fothergilla major

When to plant Fothergilla?

Planting Fothergilla is preferably done in autumn, from September to November to encourage rooting before winter. Our potted Fothergilla, however, can be planted year-round, avoiding periods of frost or extreme heat.

How to plant Fothergilla?

In ground

Fothergilla dislikes calcareous soils but heather soil is not essential; it can adapt to ordinary non-calcareous soil enriched with potting compost. Heather soil should also be enriched with potting compost to ensure good development. If your soil is too calcareous, choose a bush less sensitive to soil type. If you still wish to try growing it: add heather soil and forest potting compost. Plant alone or in groups of 3 or 5 at a rate of 1 specimen per m2.

• Dig a wide planting hole at least three times the pot’s volume
• Add gravel to the bottom of the hole to ensure good drainage
• Plant Fothergilla at collar level, in a mix ideally composed of 1/5 loam blended in equal parts with turf, heather soil, leaf mould and coarse sand
• Keep roots cool with an organic mulch of pine bark or leaf litter
• Water regularly with non-calcareous water (rainwater), 2–3 times a week for the first three weeks after planting

Follow all our advice to succeed with planting your Fothergilla!

In a pot

Choose a dwarf Fothergilla whose compact growth perfectly suits this use. It will thrive for many years in a large container, provided regular watering.

• In a pot at least 30–40 cm in diameter, lay a bed of gravel or clay pebbles at the bottom
• Plant Fothergilla in a fresh, very free-draining mix based on pure heather soil, well-rotted compost and good non-calcareous garden soil
• Water very regularly with rainwater to keep the substrate consistently moist
• Spread mulch or plant small perennials to help maintain coolness at the base

Maintenance, pruning and care

Caring for Fothergilla is easy; it is undemanding when grown in suitable substrate, and it is a bush that is almost immune to most diseases. In short, it only fears two things: dry soils and calcareous conditions.

On overly calcareous soil, the bush is often affected by chlorosis: foliage yellows and flowering is reduced. Better to try transplanting into a new planting hole before it dies, enriching soil with heather soil and compost.

Regarding watering, young plants require very regular attention for the first three summers after planting. In ground as in pots, the soil must never completely dry out.

Closer monitoring of watering, especially during hot spells or prolonged drought, using rainwater where possible, is essential, together with a generous organic mulch (bark or pine needles, leaf tapetum) to help prevent soil drying out at its base.

This small bush requires little or no pruning; pruning consists of a very light refresh in spring, in February–March, before growth resumes. This allows rebalancing its shape:

• Remove dead, unruly or tangled branches
• After flowering: remove faded flowers

For full details on caring for shrubs that prefer heather soil, consult our advice sheet.

Fothergilla major in very early flower

Multiplication

Sowing is possible with seeds collected from a specimen at least two years old, as they will only germinate after experiencing two winters. NWe recommend cuttings in summer on soft wood of your Fothergilla.

By herbaceous cuttings

• In June, take shoots still tender, 10 to 20 cm long
• Remove all lower leaves and make a clean cut just below a node
• Plant cuttings in well-draining compost
• Keep regularly moist and covered, in shade
• Pot up into buckets as soon as they have formed roots
• Keep them frost-free until following spring then plant in open ground or in a pot

By layering or taking suckers

Fothergilla tends to form suckers and to stolonise naturally: propagation is possible by taking, at start of spring, a rooted sucker and simply replanting it in non-calcareous soil. Layering is also feasible but slow given this bush’s slow root development.

Associate

With its immaculate white flowering and fiery foliage, Fothergilla is essential to enliven gardens in spring and autumn. It fits well in romantic gardens and in white gardens, where it adds plenty of brightness.

Preferring acidic soils, it pairs easily in informal hedgerows or cool borders with ericaceous plants such as Hamamelis, Magnolia, Pieris, ferns, Kalmias, deciduous Azaleas, Hydrangeas, Camellias, Rhododendrons, Sarcococca or Daphnes, which will flower before it or take over from its flowering.

An idea for a combination in light woodland and acidic soil: Fothergilla major, Geranium macrorrhizum ‘White Ness’, Polygonatum falcatum ‘Variegatum’, Rhododendron fragrantissimum, Matteuccia struthiopteris under cover of Betula utilis var. jacquemontii

In spring, its flowers look superb alongside spring-flowering perennials such as Bleeding Hearts, Melittis, Solomon’s Seal, Tiarellas, Primroses, Hellebores, Hostas.

Underplanting at base of bush with winter heathers, brunneras, bellflowers or spring bulbs such as tulips and daffodils also works well.

Later, its foliage of flamboyant hues will pair with other bushes with autumn foliage such as Japanese Maples, Berberis, Dogwoods, deciduous euonymus, Lindera, Sumacs and with certain perennials such as Love-in-a-Mist and chrysanthemums of group Rubellum.